Genesis 36: Esau's family, and the chiefs and kings of Edom
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What happens?
This chapter lists Esau's wives and sons, and tells how Esau moved away from Jacob to the hill country of Seir. It names the chiefs who came from Esau, the families of Seir the Horite who already lived in the land, and the kings who ruled Edom before Israel had a king.
Who is speaking?
No one speaks in this chapter. It is a list of Esau's family, the chiefs of Edom, the Horites of Seir, and the early kings of Edom. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
In plain English: This is the family history of Esau (that is, Edom).
Good to know: Edom means "red". Esau was red at birth (), and he was called Edom after the red stew he asked Jacob for ().
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2Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;
In plain English: Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,
Good to know: Earlier chapters give Esau's wives other names: Judith daughter of Beeri and Basemath daughter of Elon (), and Mahalath daughter of Ishmael (). Here Elon's daughter is Adah, and Ishmael's daughter is Basemath. The text does not explain the difference.
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3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.
In plain English: and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.
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4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.
In plain English: Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau. Basemath bore Reuel.
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5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
In plain English: Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are Esau's sons, born to him in the land of Canaan.
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6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.
In plain English: Esau took his wives, his sons and daughters, everyone in his household, his livestock, all his animals, and everything he had gained in Canaan, and moved to a land away from his brother Jacob.
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7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock.
In plain English: They owned too much to live together. The land where they were staying could not support them both, because of all their livestock.
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8Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
In plain English: Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
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9This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:
In plain English: This is the family history of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir.
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10these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
In plain English: These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, son of Esau's wife Basemath.
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11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
In plain English: The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
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12Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s wife.
In plain English: Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to him. These are the descendants of Esau's wife Adah.
Good to know: Many readers take the Amalekites, who later fight Israel in the wilderness (), to be Amalek's descendants. The text does not say so directly.
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13These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
In plain English: The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the descendants of Esau's wife Basemath.
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14These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
In plain English: These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah to Esau.
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15These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
In plain English: These are the chiefs among Esau's descendants. From Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
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16chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah.
In plain English: chief Korah, chief Gatam, and chief Amalek. These are the chiefs from Eliphaz in the land of Edom, the descendants of Adah.
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17These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
In plain English: These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, and chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs from Reuel in the land of Edom, the descendants of Esau's wife Basemath.
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18These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
In plain English: These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, and chief Korah. These are the chiefs from Oholibamah, Anah's daughter, Esau's wife.
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19These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
In plain English: These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
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20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
In plain English: These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who lived in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
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21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
In plain English: Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the Horite chiefs, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom.
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22The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
In plain English: The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan's sister was Timna.
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23These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
In plain English: The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
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24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
In plain English: The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who found the hot springs (older Bibles say: the mules) in the wilderness while he was tending the donkeys of his father Zibeon.
The Hebrew word: "Hot springs" is yemim. It appears only in this verse in the whole Bible, so its meaning is not certain. The dictionary gives "a warm spring".
How it is translated: Older Bibles like the King James say "the mules".
What changes: Read as "mules", Anah found mules in the wilderness while he was tending donkeys, instead of finding hot springs.
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25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
In plain English: The children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, Anah's daughter.
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26These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
In plain English: The sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
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27These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
In plain English: The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
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28These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
In plain English: The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
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29These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
In plain English: These are the Horite chiefs: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
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30chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
In plain English: chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the Horite chiefs, chief by chief, in the land of Seir.
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31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.
In plain English: These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the people of Israel.
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32Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.
In plain English: Bela, son of Beor, ruled in Edom. His city was called Dinhabah.
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33Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.
In plain English: When Bela died, Jobab, son of Zerah, from Bozrah, became king in his place.
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34Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
In plain English: When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites became king in his place.
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35Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
In plain English: When Husham died, Hadad, son of Bedad, became king in his place. Hadad defeated Midian in the country of Moab. His city was called Avith.
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36Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
In plain English: When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah became king in his place.
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37Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.
In plain English: When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river became king in his place.
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38Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
In plain English: When Shaul died, Baal Hanan, son of Achbor, became king in his place.
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39Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
In plain English: When Baal Hanan, son of Achbor, died, Hadar became king in his place. His city was called Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
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40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
In plain English: These are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, by their families, their places, and their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
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41chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
In plain English: chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
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42chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
In plain English: chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
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43chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
In plain English: chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, by where they lived in the land they owned. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
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